Theatresport’s Cranston Cup Final
Image: Finalists Mantaur (Harry Milas and Rob Johnson) Photo: Geoff Sirmai
After battling through three months of hysterical heats and sizzling semi-finals, the finalists for one of Sydney’s great comedy traditions will come together for one last showdown as they vie for the ultimate comic championship: The Theatresports Cranston Cup.
Now in its 29th year at the Enmore Theatre, the Cranston Cup is as competitive as it is revered serving as an early platform for comedy stars such as Julia Zemiro, Andrew Denton, Andrew O’Keefe, and Adam Spencer.
Harry Milas, one half of team Mantaur who will be competing in the Grand Final, has been attending the Cup since the age of 12 and describes how climbing the ranks in the Theatresports community and getting to know long-time players has been a “real treat” and a “great tradition to be a part of”.
This year’s final features The South African’ts (Bridie Connell, Steve Lynch and Jon Williams); My Two Dads (Cale Bain and Scott Hall-Watson); Mantaur (Harry Milas and Rob Johnson, left); and True Defectives (David Callan, Steve Walsh & Daniel Cordeaux). Music whiz Benny Davis from The Axis of Awesome will also be there improvising some sweet accompanying tunes.
Describing the other teams as “very talented and clever at what they do”, Milas says that the challenge of improvisation is what lovers of Theatresports thrive off when performing, with competitions like the Cranston Cup offering up, “The opportunity to be stupid without people questioning it!”
“Judging by the teams that have already been announced, it is going to be ridiculous and very, very funny,” says Milas. “[Although], it’s one of those nights where it doesn’t really matter who wins, it’s just about having as much fun as humanly possible.”
It is fun as well as endless laughs and surprises that can be expected at this year’s Grand Final according to Milas, who like the audience, doesn’t quite know what to expect until the moment he performs.
“We always say that we can’t guarantee that you will see anything specific in the show, all we know is that you will see something,” he says. (KR)
Written by Katie Rorison
Nov 29, Enmore Theatre, 118 Enmore Rd, Newtown, $28-65, 9550 3666, ticketek.com.au
